In previous studies, we have demonstrated a fibrocartilaginous membrane around hydroxyapatite-coated implants subjected to micromovement in contrast to the fibrous connective tissue which predominates around similarly loaded Ti-coated implants had four times stronger fixation than did continuously loaded Ticoated implants (p < 0.01) but there was no equivalent difference between the two groups of HA-coated implants. The amount of bone ingrowth was greater into immobilised HA-coated implants than into

We allocated randomly 27 patients undergoing 28 primary uncemented total hip replacements (THR) to receive prosthetic components of similar design with either plasma-sprayed titanium alloy (Ti) coating (n = 13) or hydroxyapatite (HA) coating (n = 15). After some exclusions, 15 of the patients (15 THR; 7 with HA- and 8 with Ti-coating) were followed by roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis at 3, 6 and 12 months to measure migration of the femoral component. Twenty-six of the patients (26 THR) were followed clinically and by conventional radiography. All the femoral components had migrated at 3 months. From 3 to 12 months, the migration of Ti-coated components continued whereas the HA-coated components had stabilised. At 12 months there was significantly less migration of the HA-coated components (p < 0.05). The maximum subsidence was 0.2 mm in both groups. The Harris hip score was equal in the two groups preoperatively but at follow-up it was better in the HA-coated group (p < 0.05) and visual analogue scale scores showed that they had less pain (p < 0.05).

No abstract

The pharmacological efficacy of serotonergic-acting drugs suggest that patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may have alterations in their cerebral serotonergic (5-HT) receptor system, and previous neuroimaging studies of OCD patients have shown abnormalities in several fronto-subcortical regions. In this study we investigated cerebral 5-HT(2A) receptor binding in 15 untreated OCD patients and in 15 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers by magnetic resonance imaging and [(18)F]altanserin positron emission tomography (PET). Eleven of the patients were rescanned with PET after receiving treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The distribution volumes of specific tracer binding (DV(3)') were calculated for 12 brain regions, and comparisons were made between: (1) healthy volunteers vs. untreated OCD patients, (2) healthy volunteers vs. treated OCD patients, and (3) OCD patients before and during treatment. When comparing the distribution volume for specific fronto-subcortical brain regions, significantly higher values were recorded in the caudate nuclei in OCD patients (DV(3)': 0.24+/-0.14) compared to the healthy control group (DV(3)': 0.15+/-0.13) (p<0.05, Wilcoxon matched-pairs test). This difference between groups was not present after treatment with SSRIs. There was no correlation between the severity of OCD symptoms and 5-HT(2A )receptor binding. An increase in 5-HT(2A) receptor binding is found in the caudate nuclei of untreated patients with OCD. The up-regulation in 5-HT(2A) receptors might be compensatory for a lack of serotonin in the feedback loop between the thalamus and orbito-frontal cortex, the caudate nuclei, and the globus pallidus.

No abstract

This study deals with the nutritional status of Danish RA patients and address the question of whether or not RA can be directly influenced by dietary manipulation. In a prospective, single-blinded study of 6 months duration, 109 patients with active RA were randomly assigned to either treatment with or without a specialized diet. The energy consumption was adjusted to normal standards of body weights and the intake of fish meals and antioxidants were increased. A daily food diary was completed by the patients, and the total intake of 47 different food-elements was calculated. Nutritional status together with disease activity parameters were recorded. At baseline, the Danish RA-patients had neglected food habits with a significant reduction in intake of total energy, of D-vitamin and of E-vitamin. A very low intake of n-3 fatty acids was also found. During the study, 28 of the 109 patients dropped out, introducing a confounding effect on the overall result. In the remaining 81, those following the diet demonstrated a significant improvement in the duration of morning stiffness, number of swollen joints, pain status, and reduced cost of medicine, while doctors global assessment, laboratory data, X-ray, and daily activities were unaltered. In conclusion, dietary analysis and appropriate, corrective advice should be offered to Danish RA patients.

A systematic CYP2D6 gene test of hospitalized psychiatric patients revealed the identification of pharmacogenetically relevant alleles affecting capacity to metabolize antipsychotics. The frequencies of phenotypes in affected patients were 8.4 % intermediate metabolizers (IMs), 8.4 % poor metabolizers (PMs) and 3.1 % ultrafast metabolizers (UMs), whereas 52.4 % were extensive metabolizers (EMs) and 27.6 % heterozygous EMs.

The results suggest that the CCK system may play a role in the pathogenesis of PD, with susceptibility alleles both protecting and contributing to the disease. Both common and rare variants seem to be involved. The involvement of the CCK system may also contribute to the increased prevalence of PD in women.